Type-writing machine.



No. 771,781. PAIENTED OCT. 4:,15904. E. G. LATTA. TYPE WRITING MAGHLNB;

APPLICATION FILED AU4G'.,4, 19031,

1T0" MODEL.

3 SH-EETSSHBET 1.

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PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

B.G'.LATTA.. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1 903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

Ill/I141. @f 0 flfiornaga fli 63% No. 771,781. PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904E.G.LATTA.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1903.

NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,781, dated October4, 1904.

Application filed August 4, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMIT Gr. LATTA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Friendship, in the county of Allegany and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the operating mechanisms for the carriages oftype-writing machines, and is more particularly directed to improvementsin a front-strike or visible-writing machine of that kind in which thetypebars are pivoted on a segment arranged below the platen and areswung upwardly and rearwardly to make the impression at the front sideof the platen, where the writing can be seen by the operator withoutmoving the carriage or platen; but the improvements are also applicableto other forms of type-writing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a type-writing machine with animproved carriage feed or escapement which produces the usualstep-by-step movements of the carriage for ordinary Writing and enablesthe carriage to be moved irregular distances by the operation of a keyto produce special work, such as tabulated or column work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set-back device by theoperation of which the carriage can be moved back a single space at atime to facilitate the reprinting, correcting, or insertion of acharacter.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is alongitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a type-writing machineembodying the invention, portions of the machine which are not necessaryto an understanding of the invention being omitted. Fig. 2 is afragmentary transverse sectional elevation thereof in line 2 2, Fig. 1,seen from the front. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof, partly brokenaway, showing parts of the earriage-escapement in a different positionfrom that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the lower portionof the machine, partly broken away, showing one of the key-levers,

, but omitting the type-bars and other parts for the sake of clearness.Fig. 5 is a detail fierial No, 168,190. (No model.)

sectional elevation of the driving-drum for the carriage and associatedparts. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the tabulator-disks.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The main frame of the machine upon which the several operative parts aremounted may be of any suitable construction and preferably consists ofupright sides a, which are connected at the front by a stepped plate orportion a, constituting the base of the keyboard,

and at the back by an upright rear portion.

of bracket (0 which is joined at its opposite ends to inwardly-extendingoverhanging portions 6& of the sides of the frame.

B represents the platen; C, one of the typebars, which are arrangedbelow and in front of the platen and are pivoted at their rear ends on acurved segment 0, located below the plane of the platen; D, one of thekey-levers, which are arranged below the type-bars and connected to thelatter by rods (Z; E, the keys connected to the key-levers and supportedin suitable bearings on the keyboard-base, and F the ribbon, the frontend of which is connected to a spool (not shown) and which passes downin front of the platen through a suitable guide device f and isconnected at its rear end to a spool f, arranged below the platen.

The type-bars, the type-bar segment, the key-levers, and ribbonmechanism are arranged and constructed, preferably, as described inother applications about to be filed. These parts may, however, be ofany suitable construction and arrangement and are shown herein simply togive a better understanding of the general arrangement of the parts.

The platen B, as usual, is supported by a carriage which is movablelaterally or crosswise of the machine. The carriage is supported andmovable on a stationary horizontal g represents a horizontal slidingbearing This bear1ngbar or rail for the carriage.

bar is preferably made in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 5, of sheetmetal, having its rear side ground to form a wide rearwardly-openinggroove of the shape shown. The upper portion of the bearing-baroverhangs the stationary track and incloses and bears on an upper set ofballs in a ball-race in the track, while the lower portion of the rearface thereof is plain and bears against the exposed portions of a lowerset of balls in a second ball-race in the track.

The carriage proper consists of four parts, or two end pieces or barsand front and rear transverse horizontal connecting rods or bars 71. if,which are preferably round steel rods. The rear rod 762 passes looselythrough bearing-brackets [1/ secured by screws h or otherwise to earsit, which project rearwardly from the end portions of the slidingbearing-bar.

it, Fig. 3, represents springs which are coiled around the rear rod ofthe carriage, each having one end hooked over the adjacentbearing-bracket and the other end inserted in one of a series of holesin a collar it, which surrounds the rear rod of the carriage and isadjustably held thereon by a set-screw it These springs act to normallyhold the carriage up in the position shown in full lines.

The platen is turned to produce ordinary line-spaces or feed the paperby the following mechanism: 1, Fig. 2, represents aratchet wheel orplate which is secured to one end of the platen, preferably the rightend, and is provided near its outer edge with ratchetteeth c'. K, Figs.2 and 3, represents the regular line-space or paper-feed lever forturning the platen. The lever is located at the right end of thecarriage and pivoted to the adjacent side piece of the carriage by ascrew or pin 71;." The line-space lever is provided at its front endwith an arm which projects toward the ratchet-plate and carries apivoted pawl k, Fig. 2, the upper free end of which is adapted to engagewith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel I to turn the platen. K, Figs. 2 and3, represents a lever similar to the linespace lever K, arranged at theopposite end of the carriage and pivoted thereto byasuitable screw orpin 76. The construction, arrangement, and operation of the line-spacelevers K K is more fully shown and described in my application forUnited States Letters Patent Serial No. 179,119, filed October 30, 1903.L, Figs. 1 and 3, is a bar of angular shape in cross-section, which isarranged longitudinally beneath the platen and is provided with upturnedends m, which are pivoted to arms a n on the line-space levers K K,respectively. This bar connects the two levers, so that when the lever Kat the left end of the carriage is operated power is transmittedtherefrom to the other lever, K, at the right end of the carriage andthe platen is turned by the pawl and ratchet-plate, as above described.The two levers and their connecting-rod thus afford means for turningthe platenv from either end thereof. necting-rod L also constitutes themeans for releasing the carriage feed or escapement, as hereinafterexplained.

The carriage feed or escapement mechanism is constructed as follows,(see Figs. 1, 2, and 3:) 0 represents the carriage-driving drum orbarrel, which is journaled beneath the carriage-supporting track on ahollow stud or axle P, projecting from the upright rear portion of themain frame, on which the drum is held by a suitable bolt 19, passingthrough the axle. The drum incloses an ordinary spiral'spring connectedat its inner end to the supporting-axle and at its outer end to the drumor barrel in any suitable manner. The peripheral face of the drum isprovided with gear-teeth p, which mesh with a toothed rack 19 formed onor secured to the lower edge of the sliding bearing-bar of the carriage.The spring tends to turn the drum to the left, as indicated by the arrowin Fig. 2, and moves the carriage to the left, as usual. The tension ofthe driving-spring may be readily increased or decreased bydisconnecting the rack-bar from the teeth of the drum and turning thedrum on its axle. p indicates ratchet-teeth, which in the constructionshown are formed on a wheel or plate constituting the back of thedriving-drum. The lattter, however, may be independent of theratchet-wheel and controlled thereby in any suitable manner.

Q, Figs. 1, 3, and 4;, represents the universal bar, which, as usual, isarranged transversely beneath the several key-levers, so as to bedepressed when any key is depressed to print a character. The universalbar preferably has rearwardly-extending side portions pivoted near therear of the machine on pivots q, projecting inwardly from the sides ofthe main frame. the universal bar approach each other at the rear of themachine beneath the driving-d rum and support an upright dog-post q,pivoted thereto by a screw or bolt 1 The universal bar is normally heldup by one or more coilsprings Q3, connected thereto and to the baseplateof the keyboard. The dog-post q is offset, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,and the upper portion thereof is bifurcated or branched.

q" is a holding-clog, which is pivoted on a pin or stud Q5, projectingfrom a bracket q, secured to the rear portion of the main frame. Thefree end of the holding-dog extends between and is pivoted to thebranches of the dog-post, and is provided with a tooth or nose adaptedto engage with the teeth of the escapement ratchet-wheel.

R represents an escapement-pawl, which is supported by a pivot r,passing through an elongated slot in the pawl and secured to lugsprojecting from the bracket q. The pawl R is provided with a tooth orportion adapted The con- 65 The rear ends of the side portions of toengage the ratchet-teeth of the drivingdrum, and on one side of itspivot with atailpiece 1", which passes between the branches of thedog-post above a set-screw r which passes through the offset portion ofthe dogpost. The pawl R is provided at the opposite side of its pivotwith an arm 1*, and has a depending projection, which is connected tothe rear portion of the main frame by a coiled spring 7- The set-screw1- carried by the dog-post, is adjusted to release the pawl R after thenose of the dog q has been raised to engage one of the teeth of theescapement ratchet-wheel. When a type-key is depressed to make animpression, the universal bar is also depressed and the dog-post raisedto carry the holdingdog q into engagement with one of the teeth of theratchetwheel. The set-screw r then strikes the tail of theescapement-pawl, disengaging its nose from the tooth of the escapementratchetwheel, and the nose of the pawl R is moved by its spring 7"rearwardly and upwardly into engagement with the next tooth of theratchetwheel. When the type has made the impression and the key isreleased, the dog 9* is lowered by the downward movement of the dogpost, and the ratchet wheel turns forwardly one tooth,carrying the pawlR with it until the latter is stopped by the engagement of the end ofits slot with its pivot-pin r, and the ratchet-wheel is arrested.

S, Figs. 1 and 4, represents the space key or bar, which is supported atthe front ends of forwardly-converging levers s, pivoted at their rearends to lugs s on the rear portion of the main frame and connected attheir front ends by a rod .9 and bar or strip 8 The space-key is held upby one or more suitable spring 8, connecting it with the base-plate ofthe keyboard, and the strip 8 is provided with a hook or projectionsiwhich overhangs a cooperating hook or projection 8 secured to theuniversal bar. When the space-key is depressed, the hook s thereonengages the hook on the universal bar, so that the latter is depressedby the depression of the spacekey. The universal bar is depressed by thedepression of the type-keys independently of the space-lever in theordinary manner and is also moved by the depression of the spacekey. Thecarriage is thus moved laterally step by step to produce the ordinaryletterspacing in the usual operation of the machine by depressing eitherthe type-bars or the space-key.

T, Figs. 1 and 2, represents a carriage-release lever, which, togetherwith a ribbonfeed lever t, is pivoted ona bracket 25, secured to thecarriage-track and extending forwardly beneath the platen. Therelease-lever is arranged with its free end beneath the free end of theribbon-feed lever, which in turn is beneath the horizontal bar Lconnecting the paper-feed levers K K, so that when said bar is depressedby the operation of either of the paper-feed levers the ribbon-feedlevert is depressed and striking the release-lever T depresses thelatter. The carriage-release lever is connected to the upper end of arod t the lower end of which has a rearward extension which projectsover the arm r of the escapem'ent-pawl R.

The actuation of either paper-feed lever operates through theribbon-feed lever, releaselever, and rod t to disengage theescapementpawl from the ratchet-wheel, thereby avoiding the noise andwear of the parts of the carriage-escapement when the platen is turnedand the carriage set back for anew line. The parts are so adjusted thata slight movement of either paper-feed lever will release the escapementpawl and free the carriage, and a further movement of the lever willturn the platen and feed the ribbon, as explained in my aplication forthe ribbon mechanism.

The irregular movement of the carriage for the production of specialwork, such as tabulated and column matter, is effected by the followingmechanism: Urepresents a ratchetdisk which is secured to the rear sideof the escapement ratchet-wheel P and is of smaller diameter than thelatter. The teeth or stops at on the tabulator ratchet-disk are spacedat intervals greater than the teeth on the regular escapementratchet-wheel-for instance, they may be separated distances such thatwhen the tabulator ratchet-disk is turned from one tooth to thenext thecarriage will be moved by the driving-drum a distance equal to tenletter spaces. The tabulator ratchet-disk is provided with a radial slot10', whereby it is slipped over the hub of the escapement ratchetwheel,on which it is held from turning by a stud n on the escapementratchet-wheel engaging in one of a circular series of holes a in thetabulator-disk. The disk is held in place on the ratchet-wheel by a nuta, screwed on the threaded hub of the ratchet-wheel. V represents atabulator-lever which, in the form shown in the drawings, is made in onepiece, with atransverse rock-shafto, pivoted in bearings n on one sideof the main frame and on a fixed transverse bar or plate 22 secured tothe main frame. The lever has a forwardlyprojecting arm provided with akey 21 and a rearwardly-projecting arm, the rear end of which extendsupwardly and is provided at its top with a curved face adapted to engagea smooth circular face on the escapement ratchet-wheel and with. a toothor projection 41*, adapted to engage the teeth or stops on the tabulatorratchet-disk. The upright rear portion of the tabulator-key is providedwith a horizontal pin or projection of, Fig. 3, which extends beneaththe tail of the escapementpawl R. The tabulator-key is held up by acoil-spring v, Figs. 2 and 3, connected to the rear end of thetabulator-lever and to the rear portion of the main frame. When thetabulator-key is depressed, the rear end of the lever is raised, withits curved face in engagement with the cylindrical face of theescapement ratchet-wheel and its tooth in the path of the teeth of thetabulator-disk. The pin a engages the tail of the escapement-pawl R andmoves the later to release the escapement ratchet-wheel, which is turnedby the driving-drum until a tooth on the tabulator-disk strikes thetooth on the tabulator-lever and is arrested. Thus the tabulatorleverreleases the escapement ratchet-wheel when it is depressed and permits amovement of the driving-drum and carriage equal to the dis tance betweenthe teeth or stops of the tabulator-disk. In this movement of thecarriage the curved face of the tabulator-lever, bearing against thecylindrical face of the escapementwheel, acts as a friction-brake toretard the movement of the escapement-wheel and prevent shock and injuryto the parts. This movement can be varied to suit any character of workby providing different ratchetdisks on which the teeth are differentlyspaced. Fig. 6 shows a tabulator-disk provided with teeth or stopsspaced farther apart and adapted to stop the carriage after afifteen-letter-spacc movement of the same. The tabulator disks areinterchangeable. To detach a disk, the carriage is moved to one side ofits run, which turns the tabulator-disk with its slot extendingdownwardly from the hub of the driving-drum. The upper portion of thedisk is then disengaged from the stud on the escapement ratchet-wheeland the disk slipped off of the hub of the escapement ratchet-wheel.Tabulator-disks can be supplied for various purposes-that is, to permitdifferent movements of the carriage-and when in place do not interferewith the regular step-by-step movements of the carriage except when thetabulator-key is depressed. The stud on the escapement ratchet-wheel canbe engaged inany one of the holes in the tabulator-disk, which arepreferably spaced apart a distance equal to live letter-spaces, in orderto enable the carriage to be stopped at any desired point. The tabulatorratchet-disks are flat steel stampings, made at small expense bystringing a number of them on a mandrel and milling their outer edges toproduce the desired number and position of teeth.

Instead of providing separate tabulatordisks the driving-drum orescapement ratchetwheel could be provided with steps, or sepa rate stopscould be adjustably attached. to the drum. Neither of theseconstructions, however, is considered as desirable as that explainedabove.

W, Figs. 3 and 4, represents a setback-lever, which is of any suitableform and is pivoted intermediate of its ends on a lug depending from theinwardly-projecting portion of one side of the main frame. The lever isprovided at its front end with a key w and at its rear end is providedwith a pivoted dog w, which cooperates with the escapement ratchetwheeland which is connected to the main frame by a coil-spring e0 The dog ismade with a lateral extension at its lower end,which in the normalposition of the lever is held by the spring 10 on a stud w, secured tothe rear portion of the main frame, and prevents the upper free end ofthe dog from engaging the teeth of the escapement ratchet-wheel. Thespring is connected to the dog at one side of its pivot, and when thedog is lifted off of its rest by depressing the setback-key the springswings its upper end into engagement with the teeth .of the escapementratchet-wheel, which is turned backwardly by a further movement of thesetback-lever until the escapementpawl engages the next tooth of theratchet. The parts are so proportioned that the depression of thesetback-key to its limit forces the carriage back one letter space,which movement can be repeated, if desired, with great ease andrapidity, causing the carriage to move back a space at a time as far asdesired. The spring 10 acts to return the setback-lever to its normalposition.

I do not broadly claim in this application an irregular feed for thecarriage, enabling the production of tabulated matter or column work, ora device for setting the carriage back; but

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a type-writing machine thecombination with a carriage having a toothed rack, of a power drivenwheel meshing with said toothed rack, a universal bar, a regularstepby-step feed for the driving-wheel actuated by the universal bar,andan auxiliary irregular feed for said wheel actuated independently. ofthe universal bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage, of apower-driven drum or barrel having two sets of concentric stops rigidlyconnected thereto, and two escapements acting with said stops wherebyeither a regular step-by-step or an irregular feed of the carriage maybe had at will, substantially as set forth.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage, of apower-driven drum for actuating the carriage, having two sets of fixedstops thereon, an escapement device cooperating with one of said sets ofstops to produce a regular step-by-step feed of the carriage, and anescapement device cooperating with the other set of stops. to produce anirregular feed of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage having atoothed rack, of a power driven wheel meshing with the toothed rack onthe carriage, two sets of con centric ratchet-teeth on said wheel ofdifferent pitch, and two independent escapements cooperating with saidsets of teeth whereby either a regular step-by-step or an irregular feedmay be had at will, substantially as set forth.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage drivingwheel or drum, and a regular step-by-step carriage-feed, of an auxiliaryirregular carriage-feed, and a onepiece centrally-pivoted lever having afingerkey at one end and a brake-shoe at the other end acting directlyon the driving-wheel whenever the key is depressed, substantially as setforth.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a carriage drivingwheel or drum, regular and irregular feed devices, and a one-piececentrally-pivoted lever having a finger-key at one end and an integralstop and brake-shoe at the other end, substantially as set forth.

7 In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriagedriving-wheel, and aregular step-by-step escapament, of an auxiliaryescapement of greater pitch than the regular escapement, and a one-piecefinger-lever centrally pivoted to the frame of the machine and acting todisengage the regular escapement, form a direct braking contact with thewheel, and a direct stop for the auxiliary escapement, substantially asset forth.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a carriage, adriving-wheel operatively connected thereto and provided with stops,means cooperating with said stops to produce a regular step-by-step feedof the carriage, an auxiliary feed-disk detachably secured to saiddriving-wheel and having stops, and means cooperating with said stops toproduce an irregular feed of the carriage, substantially as set forth.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a power-drivencarriage, of a wheel having two sets of stops arranged at differentintervals, and two space-keys and connections whereby either key actsindependently of the f)the}r to feed the carriage, substantially as setort 10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with-a regularstep-by-step carriageescapement, of an irregular auxiliary escapementincluding an operatively connected wheel having stops and a smoothsurface, and a lever-actuated part acting to release the regularescapement and acting as a frictionbrake on the smooth part of thewheel, substantially as set forth.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage, and atoothed wheel operatively connected therewith, of a fingerlevercentrally pivoted to the frame of the machine, and a dog or pawl pivotedto the lever and adapted to automatically engage the toothed wheel witheach vibration of the lever, substantially as set forth.

1%. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the carriage and atoothed wheel operatively connected with the carriage, of acentrally-pivoted one-part finger-lever having a pivoted dog at one end,and a spring acting with the initial movement of the lever to engage thedog with the toothed wheel, and with the release of the lever to retractthe same and disengage the dog, substantially as set forth.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a power-drivencarriage, and a toothed wheel operatively connected to the carriage, ofa centrally-pivoted finger-lever, a dog pivoted directly thereto, anabutment against which the dog normally rests, and a spring acting tothrow the dog in contact with the wheel with the initial movement of thelever, and to withdraw the dog from the wheel and hold it against theabutment after the release of the lever, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 29th day of July, 1903.

EMMIT G. LATTA.

Witnesses: I

H. L. BLossoM, OHAs. J. Rrcn.

